The new Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture will debut an exhibition titled “Taking the Stage” on Sept. 24. The exhibit will recognize African American artists who have contributed in the areas of film, theater and television.
Among those artists included will be Bill Cosby, whose career and sex scandal will be highlighted. The museum’s director announced the news on Thursday.
“This is not an exhibition that ‘honors or celebrates’ Bill Cosby, but one that acknowledges his role, among many others, in American entertainment,” said Lonnie Bunch, founding director of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture. “Some people feel that the Smithsonian should eliminate all mention of Bill Cosby as a result of recent revelations. We understand,but respectfully disagree.”
Bunch also noted that the exhibit will strive to tell “the unvarnished truth” about all artists, including Cosby.
“This museum seeks to tell, in the words of the eminent historian John Hope Franklin, ‘the unvarnished truth’ that will help our visitors to remember and better understand what has often been erased and forgotten. Like all of history, our interpretation of Bill Cosby is a work in progress, something that will continue to evolve as new evidence and insights come to the fore,” Bunch said in a statement. “Visitors will leave the exhibition knowing more about Mr. Cosby’s impact on American entertainment, while recognizing that his legacy has been severely damaged by the recent accusations.”
Cosby has been accused of raping or sexually assaulting dozens of women. The actor has denied the allegations.
